whats an engineer
TRANSCRIPT
What’s An Engineer?
A presentation brought to you by the Education Outreach Program
at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division,
Patuxent River, Maryland
Engineers and scientists are often confused in the minds of the general public. Scientists explore nature in order to discover general principles. Engineers apply established principles drawn from mathematics and science in order to develop economical solutions to technical problems.
What is the difference between a Scientist and an Engineer?
What Does an Engineer Do?
An Engineer uses science, technology, and mathematics to design useful things for the benefit of people.
What Types of People Like Engineering?
People who like to work with cutting edge technology
Creative people
People who like to solve problems
People who like teamwork
People who want to make things better
People who want to help humanity
Is Engineering Just About Science and Math?
NO!!! Engineers are good communicators … they need to speak and write well to share their ideas and designs with peers and customers.
Engineers are “team players” ... they understand that working with people with different backgrounds and experiences will result in a better design.
Engineers have broad skill sets … many engineering jobs cross engineering disciplines. For example, an aviation structural engineer may have a civil engineering degree. Biomedical engineering combines biology, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering skills.
What Do Engineers Look Like?
YOU!
Do You Recognize These Engineers?
Astronauts Neil Armstrong Aerospace Engineer
Judy Resnick Electrical Engineer
Lonnie Johnson Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering degrees Invented the Super Soaker
“The Apprentice” Dr. Randal Pinkett Engineering degrees from Rutgers, Oxford and MIT
Bill Nye “The Science Guy” Television personality, Mechanical Engineer
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Improve the safety of the space shuttles and Navy aircraft Build a more spacious airliner Create satellites that detect drought around the world Design robots that collect samples on other planets, revealing insights about our galaxy
Develop parachutes, using new materials to improve their performance
Aerospace Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Design environmentally friendly cleaning products Develop materials to prevent corrosion on Navy ships Develop chemotherapy that has fewer side effects Turn seawater into drinking water Develop ways of mass producing vaccines to ward off epidemics Reduce pollution by developing cleaner sources of energy
Chemical Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Create software that detects brain tumors earlier Design a feather-light laptop Develop software for Navy airplanes Develop user-friendly blogging software Oversee the computer network for a telecommunications company Predict the strength of earthquakes through computer simulation
Computer Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Invent better MRI scanners, allowing doctors to see even more clearly inside a patient’s body Develop better means of detecting underwater threats to Navy ships Create special effects for the movies Design cell phones that work more reliably and have more features
Develop artificial retinas for the blind Work on satellite communications systems that connect people around the world
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Design “smart” toys for kids Design unique prototype parts for Navy airplanes Develop cars that are more fuel efficient Produce hypoallergenic air conditioning for hospital operating rooms Create prosthetic hands that allow a person to type and write Build aerospace vehicles to trek across planets and moons, collecting samples
Mechanical Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Design merchant ships, warships, drilling platforms and pleasure boats…even cruise ships!
Find new ways of making boats and ships do their job better (cargo, salvage, drilling, exploration,…)
Find new ways to make places that support ships work better (ports, docks, platforms,…)
Design more innovative and efficient power and propulsion systems (go faster on less fuel)
Find new materials for building ships (new metals, composites, plastics,…)
Naval Architecture Engineering
What Kinds of Engineers are there?
Design and build complicated systems out of many parts (airplanes, cars, computers and software, medical, environmental,…)
Make sure all pieces of complex systems are built correctly so they come together in the right way at the right time
Solve complicated problems to make sure that systems do what they were designed to do, are reliable, and continue to improve
Systems Engineering
All new or modified Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are tested at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Patuxent River.
The engineers at “Pax River” do important work for our country by ensuring the aircraft and equipment our service men and women depend on will:
Keep them safe And enable them to perform their mission successfully.
Pax River hires many types of engineers. Next is an example of the day in the life of an aerospace engineer:
What do Engineers do at Patuxent River?
There are many other types of Engineers!
Agricultural
Architectural
Biomedical
Civil
Environmental
Industrial
Manufacturing
Materials
Mining / Geology
Nuclear
Ocean
Petroleum
Software
And Many More!!
Why Be an Engineer?
Interesting work and job satisfaction
Great variety – electrical, biomedical, environmental, chemical and more!
Solid foundation for other careers such as law and management
Opportunity to benefit society by solving humanitarian and environmental problems
Financial security
Start Preparing Now!
Preparing for college begins early! RecommendedCourseWorkfromTryEngineeringorganiza7on
Math (4 Years): • Algebra I and II • Geometry • Trigonometry • Calculus
Science (4 Years): • Biology • Physics • Chemistry • (Other options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecology, Astronomy, and Earth Sciences.)
Language Arts (4 Years): • English • Electives in this area includes Speech/Debate, Communications/Media, and Journalism.)
Foreign Language (3 Years): • Your choice, based on what your school offers.
Additional preparation for College Success
Take AP or Honors courses when offered
Do well on standardized tests
Join engineering or science clubs
Get involved in other extracurricular activities that will help you build valuable skills for the future
Apply for a summer job at an engineering facility or gain experience through a non-paid internship
Apply for a government fellowship at www.asee.org
Local engineering degree pathways
CollegeofSouthernMaryland Twoyearprogram Transfer60creditstoUniversityof
Maryland’sengineeringschool
UniversityofMarylandattheSouthernMarylandHigherEduca7onCenter JuniorandSeniorYearComple7on Blendofteleconference,classroomand
campusformat Coopera7veEduca7onOpportunitywith
NAWCADPatuxentRiver–EarnWhileYouLearn
WhereCanYouFindMoreInforma3on?
Na7onalDefenseEduca7onProgramhQp://www.ndep.ushQp://www.ndep.us/lLabsPax
AmericanSocietyforEngineeringEduca7onhQp://www.asee.org
NavalAirSystemsCommand(NAVAIR)hQp://www.navair.navy.mil/jobs
EngineerYourLifehQp://www.engineeryourlife.org
SocietyofWomenEngineershQp://www.swe.orghQp://aspire.swe.org
Education Outreach Resources
Education Outreach Coordinator Kathy Glockner (301) 342-2281 [email protected]
Education Outreach Coordinator Karen Lane (Calvert County only) (301) 706-0245 [email protected] www.ndep.us/labs/patuxentriver
Higher Education and Research Partnerships Dr. Paul Hoffman (301) 342-9361 [email protected]
References: American Association of Engineering Education and “Try Engineering”